Feigning Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Through Health-Washing: Gambling Industry Conflicts of Interest in Health Service Provision and Training in Ireland

Abstract

The gambling industry in Ireland, and elsewhere continues to grow. Evidence of the nature and extent of the gambling problem in Ireland has started to emerge. In order to better understand the machinations, tactics and strategies of the gambling industry it is instructive to review the activities of the global tobacco and alcohol industries. The gambling industry in Ireland feigns concern with corporate social responsibility (CSR) to camouflage its activities. Three particular aspects of the gambling industries’ CSR activities may be referred to as health-washing. These are the funding of gambling related research, the funding of counselling programs for individuals and their families impacted by problematic gambling, and the funding of gambling related third-level courses. This commentary focuses specifically on the last two of these which are funded by the Gambling Awareness Trust (GAT), a representative body of the Irish gambling industry.